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Sussan Ley

13 Jan 2017

AMA President, Dr Michael Gannon, today acknowledged the positive and collaborative contribution that Sussan Ley has made to the Health portfolio.

Dr Gannon said that, from her first day as Health Minister, Ms Ley made a genuine effort to engage with the medical profession.

“Sussan Ley became Health Minister at a very difficult time,” Dr Gannon said.

“The Government was reeling from a comprehensive negative response – both from the public and the health sector – to its various versions of a Medicare patient co-payment.

“It was Ms Ley’s job to turn around this negativity, and it was not long into her tenure that the co-payment policy was scrapped.

“She then entered into genuine consultation with the AMA and other groups as the Government embarked on a range of reviews – including the MBS Review and the Private Health Insurance Review.

“Ms Ley also commenced the Health Care Home trial, which has received qualified AMA support.

“The AMA did not always agree with the policies announced by the Minister, especially the Medicare rebate freeze, but she was always prepared to hear our views and continue the broader discussions around health reform.

“The AMA thanks Sussan Ley for her friendly and engaging approach to dealing with the challenging Health portfolio, and we wish her success in her ongoing political career and beyond,” Dr Gannon said.